The Ultimate Bass Spawning Quiz

Spring is considered the season of love and bass are no exception to this phenomenon. Every spring bass go through a very interesting spawning ritual. Many people fish for bass during the spawn, but it takes some special procedures to be successful. Take our quiz to learn more about fishing when the bass spawn.

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Question 1 of 20

What is the usual length of the entire spawning process for bass?

as little as two and a half weeks

as little as three weeks

Bass waste little time when it comes to spawning; the entire process can take a little as three weeks. This includes building a nest, finding a mate, hatching fertilized eggs, and guarding young fish until they are ready to be on their own.

as little as four and a half weeks

Question 2 of 20

When do bass build a nest in order to spawn?

A male builds a nest before finding a mate.

Once the water starts to warm up in the spring a male bass locates a suitable spot for a nest. He then builds a nest before seeking a mate.

A male and female build a nest together.

A female builds a nest before finding a mate.

Question 3 of 20

How does a male bass signal a female that he is ready to spawn?

He darts back and forth over the nest.

He swims slowly in circles above the nest.

A male bass circles his new nest slowly and waits for a mate. When a female decides to join the male in the nest, they move directly into the spawning ritual.

He swims over the nest in a lazy figure eight.

Question 4 of 20

How do bass complete the egg fertilization during spawning?

The egg sac is outside a female’s body, the male releases sperm and then the female deposits the sac in the nest.

The couple settles next to each other over the nest and simultaneously releases eggs and sperm.

The couple swim next to each while tilted on their sides and simultaneously release eggs and sperm.

After releasing their respective eggs or sperm into the nest, the male sticks around to guard their offspring, while the female is free to leave the spawning area or mate with a new fish.

Question 5 of 20

Which of the bass takes responsibility for the fertilized eggs and the subsequent hatchlings?

the male

Once the eggs are deposited, the female's role in the spawning is over. The male stays close to protect the eggs until they hatch.

the female

both male and female

Question 6 of 20

How long does the male bass have to remain with the eggs and subsequent hatchlings?

The male stays with the eggs two days until they hatch and three weeks more until they can be on their own.

The male stays with the eggs a few days until they hatch and two weeks more until they can be on their own.

The male protects the eggs from harm until they hatch within a few days. After hatching, the young spawn spend two weeks growing and learning what to eat before going off on their own.

The male stays with the eggs nine days until they hatch and 18 days more until they can be on their own.

Question 7 of 20

What is a popular theory about the timing of bass spawning?

The first windy day after water temperature hits 60 degrees F triggers the bass spawn.

The first rainy day after water temperature hits 60 degrees F triggers the bass spawn.

The first full moon after water temperature hits 60 degrees F triggers the bass spawn.

Many anglers believe that the phase of the moon has an affect on the timing of bass spawning. According to basspro.com, the first full moon after water reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 degrees Celsius) is supposedly when the male fish will begin flocking to the spawning grounds.

Question 8 of 20

At what age can a bass first spawn?

eight months

one year

According to aquanic.org, a bass is able to spawn after they have reached one year in age and have exceeded 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) in length. Most of the spawn will occur in the spring months of April, May and early June, depending on water temperature.

one and a half years

Question 9 of 20

What is the ideal range of water temperature for the bass spawn?

60 to 70 degrees

60 to 65 degrees

65 to 75 degrees

The ideal water temperature for the bass spawn is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 and 23.9 degrees Celsius). When water temperature suddenly drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 degrees Celsius), a current spawn will be in jeopardy.

Question 10 of 20

What happens when the water temperature drops below 60 degrees F due to a cold front?

the male will die trying to warm the eggs

the male will leave the nest alone

When the water temperature suddenly cools below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, a male will abandon the nest in search of warmer waters. If left alone, eggs will likely fall prey predators and never hatch.

the eggs will die off

Question 11 of 20

Do male bass leave the nest between the time when the eggs are laid, hatch, and the young fish leave the nest forever?

they do not leave the nest even to eat

According to dunnsfishfarm.com, most male bass will not eat from the time they meet their mate until their spawn have grown and dispersed, which leaves them weak. The male bass tears up his tail moving debris around while building a nest and the small cuts make the male bass especially susceptible to infection.

they only leave for up to an hour to catch a quick meal

they never venture more than 50 feet from their nest

Question 12 of 20

At what depths will you find most bass nest accumulating?

around six to eight feet

around three to six feet

around one to four feet

Bass nests will accumulate at depths of 1 to 4 feet (0.3 to 1.2 meters) where water temperatures reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit sooner and are more stable. In clear water, bass have been known to nest as deep as 20 feet (6.1 meters).

Question 13 of 20

How deep have bass been found nesting only in clear waters?

15 feet

20 feet

Aquanic.com notes that bass have been known to nest as deep as 20 feet (6.1 meters), because the farther down the nest is the less likely is it that waves or boats will interfere with the spawn. This is only possible when clear waters allow the warming sun to reach those depths.

25 feet

Question 14 of 20

What kind of bottom conditions do bass prefer if they have a choice when creating a nest?

grassy with soft mud

sandy with tiny pebbles

hard, rough and gravely

Bass look for a clear area with a hard surface. According to basspro.com, bass prefer rough bottoms of gravel or rocks but in sandy areas, they have no other choice but to use sand.

Question 15 of 20

After a male bass finishes his nest, how large an area does he clear up around it?

a bit larger in diameter than his body length

twice the diameter of his body

Once the male has found an area that will accommodate the spawn he uses his tail to clear the nest. Then he clears a circular area with a diameter that is two times the length of his body.

three times the diameter of his body

Question 16 of 20

How do bass make sure that the eggs are warm enough to incubate properly?

The sunlight is the sole source of warmth for the bass eggs.

In order to incubate properly, bass eggs rely on the sun to keep them warm. This is the primary reason bass risk exposure by nesting in shallow water.

The male bass floats just above the eggs to keep them warm.

The male bass spits warmer surface water around the eggs thought the day.

Question 17 of 20

Is bass fishing permitted during the spawning period?

yes

no

depends on state

There ethical issues associated with bass fishing during spawning, but fishing is permitted in most states; with some allowing only catch and release. It is a popular time to fish game that have moved to shallow waters, but the question of whether it is fair or safe to the bass population remains controversial.

Question 18 of 20

What is the biggest challenge behind fishing bass during the spawn?

getting close enough to nesting beds

getting a male to take the bait

The bass move to shallow waters for spawning, which makes them easy to find, but they are not biting. Getting a bass to take the bait is much more difficult then when there is no spawn.

avoiding the protesters

Question 19 of 20

How can you manage to catch a bass that is not biting during the spawn?

Catch the male bass with simple bait like a worm that mimics a quick easy snack.

Use a simple jig hook to snag him as this is the only way that you can catch a male.

Catch the male bass with bait that mimics a threat to his nest.

The male bass has spent a great deal of time clearing away a nest so you need to make him think it is in jeopardy. His main duty is to keep the nest clean and safe so he is more likely to respond to bait out of defense.

Question 20 of 20

What is the name often given to fishing for bass during the spawn?

trolling

sight fishing

This technique is often referred to as "sight fishing." With the bass in shallow waters, you can locate them simply by walking carefully near the edge of the water and looking for their nests -- but be careful not to let them see you.